The Starving Artist Exchange will usher in the gift-giving season

Kamas art shop will host holiday party

The Starving Artist Exchange in Kamas wants to welcome the holidays in style.

So, owners Alisha Niswander, Cassidy DuHadaway and Katie Stellpflug decided to open up shop for a Yuletide-themed artist party on Friday, Dec. 7.

While the shop, located at 283 N. Main St. in Kamas, will open at noon, the holiday party will run from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., and be held in place of the monthly First Friday event, Niswander explained.

"We decided not to feature a big artist for our First Friday artist opening this year and just to do a big push for an event to generate sales for everyone and bring people down to celebrate the holidays," Niswander said during an interview with The Park Record. "We want to get festive and all that good stuff, and thought it would be fun to mix things up and celebrate."

The event will feature live music by local acoustic singer and guitarist Ryan Walsh and photos with Santa Claus for the kids from 6 p.m. until close

It will also include sweet treats, drinks and other holiday cheer, Niswander said.

"We'll make all different sorts of goodies and will probably have some cheese and crackers so nobody will walk away with a cavity," she said with a laugh. "We'll also have some hot chocolate and cider for the kids and some wine for the adults."

The highlights of the holiday party will be opportunity drawings every 30 minutes.

"The prizes will be items that are made by the artists who regularly show their works at the Exchange," Niswander said.

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"We'll have at least six different artists participating, so there will be a variety of prizes given. People can come down to pick up their tickets and hope for the best."

There will be no cost for the drawing tickets.

"We'll give them out for free," Niswander said. "All people have to do is show up, and the only thing we ask is that they are present to win."

Last year, the Starving Artist Exchange welcomed the season in by participating in a festival through the Summit County Arts Council at Cattleman's Hall in Oakley.

"They weren't able to do that this year, so we thought about what we could do to get some people to Kamas and into the store and came up with the holiday party," Niswander said. "Our goal is to help create an art community in Kamas and we hope we'll draw a crowd with this event. In fact, starting from this event, we'll begin offering extended hours throughout the month."